Information handling system keyboard membrane with speaker interface

Abstract

A portable information handling system is assembled and disassembled by a keystone assembly that couples at an upper surface of the portable housing to overlap a keyboard assembly that covers processing components disposed in the portable housing. The keyboard assembly has plural component lock members that extend into the portable housing interior to each align with a component to hold the component in position when the keyboard assembly couples to the housing to enclose the components. One component lock member has speaker contacts extending from the keyboard membrane and communication speaker signals to the speaker to play audible sounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information handling system comprising:
 a housing having first and second housing portions rotationally coupled by a hinge;   a circuit board disposed in the first housing portion;   a processor coupled to the circuit board and operable to execute instructions that process information;   a memory coupled to the circuit board and interfaced with the processor, the memory storing the instructions and information;   a speaker disposed in the first housing portion, the speaker having connection pins extending from one side to accept speaker signals having audio and power to present audible sounds;   a keyboard assembly having plural keys configured to accept end user key press inputs exposed at an upper surface, the keyboard assembly having a housing cover coupling to the first housing portion to contain the processor, memory and speaker in an interior of the first housing portion, the housing cover having an extension member into the interior; and   a keyboard membrane disposed between the plural keys and the housing cover, the keyboard membrane detecting the key inputs to report to the processor and having an extension into the housing interior, the extension having speaker contacts aligned with the speaker connection pins to communicate speaker signals from the circuit board through the membrane to the speaker connection pin.   
     
     
         2 . The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the extension comprises a lock member that presses against the speaker to retain the speaker in a position when the housing cover couples to the first housing portion; and 
 the speaker connection pins are spring biased against the speaker contacts. 
 
     
     
         3 . The information handling system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a dampening material around the speaker connection pins and coupled to the speaker; and 
 a tapered cone of dampening material extending from the speaker contacts and aligned to guide the speaker connection pins towards the speaker contacts. 
 
     
     
         4 . The information handling system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 rails extending from the first housing portion into the interior; and 
 guide structures extending from the housing cover aligned to engage the rails by sliding on the rails to a coupled position; 
 wherein the extension slides with the housing cover towards the speaker to press the speaker connection pins against the speaker contacts when the guide structures slide on the rails to couple the housing cover to the first housing portion. 
 
     
     
         5 . The information handling system of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a keystone assembly configured to couple to the first housing portion and capture the housing cover after the guide structures slide on the rails to couple the housing cover to the first housing portion. 
 
     
     
         6 . The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the keyboard membrane comprises:
 a first portion having plural key contact switches; and 
 a second portion having a touchpad touch detection sensor, the first portion contiguous with the second portion. 
 
     
     
         7 . The information handling system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a printed circuit board integrated with the membrane and interfaced with the processor; 
 a key matrix controller coupled to the circuit board and interfaced with the plural key contact switches to decode key input values; and 
 a touch controller coupled to the circuit board and interfaced with the touch detection sensor. 
 
     
     
         8 . The information handling system of  claim 7  further comprising:
 an audio processor coupled to the circuit board and interfaced with the speaker contacts, the audio processor receiving audio information from the processor and generating speaker signals for communication to the speaker. 
 
     
     
         9 . The information handling system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a touchpad stiffener placed between the housing cover and the membrane second portion; and 
 a palm rest placed over the membrane second portion. 
 
     
     
         10 . A keyboard assembly comprising:
 plural keys configured to accept end user key press inputs exposed at an upper surface;   a housing cover configured to couple to an information handling system housing and having an extension member into the housing interior;   a speaker configured to fit in an interior of the housing and having speaker connection pins to accept speaker signals that apply to generate audible sounds; and   a keyboard membrane disposed between the plural keys and the housing cover, the keyboard membrane detecting the key inputs and having an extension into the housing interior, the extension having speaker contacts aligned with the speaker connection pins to communicate speaker signals through the membrane to the speaker connection pin.   
     
     
         11 . The keyboard assembly of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a dampening material around the speaker connection pins and coupled to the speaker; and 
 a tapered cone of dampening material extending from the speaker contacts and aligned to guide the speaker connection pins towards the speaker contacts. 
 
     
     
         12 . The keyboard assembly of  claim 11  wherein the keyboard membrane comprises a contiguous flexible material that includes key press detection switches, a touchpad touch detection surface and a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The keyboard assembly of  claim 12  further comprising:
 an audio processor coupled to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the speaker connectors to generate speaker signals to play audible sounds at the speaker.